Rebus motion-picture film.



A. D. PARFITT.

REBUS MOTION PICTURE FILM.

APP ICATION FILED sPT.5, 1916.

1,277,468. PatentedSept 3,1918.

@017 721565: fl f R 3 L I oven or- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. PARFITT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BEBUS MOTION-PICTURE FILM.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Application filed September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,408.

the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

My invention relates to the production upon a screen of animated puzzle pictures, one of its general objects being that of providing a method by which the solution of the puzzle may be suggested to the spectator :ontinuously, or' at least for a prolonged period during the display of the pictures which present the puzzle. Another general object is that of providing a film suitable for use'in standard types of motiontpicture projectors for displaying a series of apparently animated pictures affording the aforesaid effect; that is to say, a

which consecutively display the constituent elements of the puzzleand which continuously displa a suitable clew to the solution of the puzz e. Further objects will ap pear hereafter.

While my invention may be utilized merely as a means of entertainment or mental diversion, it also lends itself effectively to use as a means of advertising, for which audience willin towrite the solution (or assumed solution of each puzzle on blanks In employing my invention for advertisprovided for that pur ose. In either case, I

motion picture film presenting a series of pictures ing purposes, I have found 'it desirable to use the rebus and charade types of puzzle pictures, and am therefore illustrating such a form in mydrawings. However, I do not wish to be limited to any particular type and am using the term rebus in the broad sense in which it might include various other forms of puzzle pictures. If a standard motion picture machine is used, I employ a film vof transparent material; but if the projecting is to be done by a lantern operating on the projection principle, I employ paper or other opaque material. In either case, I imprint the sections of the film with consecutively slightly dissimilar pictures so arranged as to simulate motionupon at least a portion of the screen when the film is projected upon the latter, and preferably include among the apparently animated picture portions some of the constituent elements of the rebus. siderable number of consecutive film sections (and preferably at least in the earlier sections) an element adapted to give a clew to the solution of the rebus, which clew will thus be continuously displayed during the gradual presentation of the component parts of the puzzle icture.

For examp e, if m invention is to be employed for advertising the socalled Sunthat this crate has something to do withthe solution of the puzzle, Then the rising of the sun introduces the latter the growing of the tree gives an animated effect to the presentation-and introduces the oranges, the

flying of an orange from the tree to the li s of the sun suggests the term sun-kisse (which term of course must be familiarto the s ctators tomake such a puzzle presentation effective for advertising purposes), and the flying of the oran e or oran es from the sun into the crate inks both t e sun-kissing and the oranges in an appro priate manner with the crate which persistently faces the spectator and suggests that its possible contents may have something to do with the solution of the puzzle.

To make the dew-suggesting function of the I- also include in a concrate stitl more effective, I may employ auxiliary means, as for example by initially presenting a conspicuous question-mark on the end of the crate and gradually having this fade away during the presentation of the later film sections, thus gradually transferring the attention of the observer from this question mark to the oranges in the crate. In other words, the question mark displayed upon the crate during the earlier film sections affords one clew to the desired solution, the oranges shown in the crate during the latter film sections afford a second clew, and the first of these clews gradually vanishes during the presentation of the second clew.

However, while I have shown and deacribed an embodiment of my invention including pictorial presentations, I do not wish to be limited to this or other details of the construction and arrangement herein disclosed, it being obvious that the same might be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as new:

1. The method of displaying a rebus upon a picture screen, which consists in continuously projecting a clew to the solution of the rebus thereon, and simultaneously and progressively developing the remaining clews of the rebus one of which is finally associated With the continuously projected clew to efiect solution of the rebus.

2. The method of displaying a rebus upon a picture screen, which consists in continuously projecting a clew to the solution of the rebus thereon, initially projecting a second clew and subsequently and progressivel obliterating said second clew, and simu taneously'and progressively with said obliteration developing the remaining clews of the rebus one of which is finally substituted for the obliterated clew.

3. A rebus film for motion picture machines, comprising a series of film sections each displaying a clew to the solution of the rebus, said sections also containing portions progressively developing the remaining clews of the rebus and cooperating with the first named clew in presenting a solution of the rebus.

4. A rebus film as per claim 3, in which the matter on the film sections is so arranged that the first named clew is gradually obliterated during the developing of the said remaining clews.

ALBERT D. PARFITT. 

